Visit of Foreign Minister of Colombia

Visit of Foreign Minister of Colombia
 
The Minister of External Relations of Colombia, Dr. Jaime Bermudez Merizalde paid a two day visit 10-11 November 2009 to India at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister of India, Mr. S.M. Krishna.  Dr. Bermudez was accompanied by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism,Luis Guillermo Plata.
 
Official talks were held on 10 November at which both sides discussed wide range bilateral issues in the political and economic relationship as well as issues of common interest in multilateral fora.  Both sides noted that the visit falls during the prestigious celebration of 50 years of India-Colombia relations. 

Foreign Minister Bermudez signed a Memorandum of Underestanding on Cooperation in Bamboo with Minister of State for Science and Technology of India, Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, while the Commerce Minister signed along with Commerce Minister of India, Shri Anand Sharma, the Agreement on Protection and Promotion of Investments (BIPPA).

The Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Dr. Shashi Tharoor also met with Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez and discussed bilateral relations.  Dr. Tharoor was the host at a public event organized by the Ministry of External Affairs of India at the Indian Council of World Affairs at which Foreign Minister Bermudez gave a speech on Colombia´s foreign policy.
           
The visit of the Foreign Minister coincided with the Festival of Colombia in India comprising performances by the popular group Chocquibtown, a literary Festival and an Exhibition of sculptures by the noted sculptress, Claudia Hakim, in New Delhi.
The Foreign Ministers also launched the special commemorative book, titled “History of a Friendship : India and Colombia 50 years” with essays on India by Colombian authors.
During the visit, the President of the National Industry Association of Colombia (ANDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian software association, NASSCOM, for cooperation in this field.

Joint statement by India and Colombia on the visit of Foreign Minister of Colombia to India
Press report from the MEA of Colombia on Foreign Ministers Meeting
Press report from the MEA of Colombia on conference of Minister Bermúdez
Press report on the BIPPA signed between India and Colombia
Press report from the MEA of Colombia on MoU between Andi and Nasscom
Press report from the MEA of Colombia on bamboo
Press report from the MEA of Colombia on Colombian sculptress
Press report from la República
Press report el Tiempo November 29 2009

 
The three Ministers after signing the MoU